Hamburg native following dreams

Norwich University junior and Vernon native Holly Lutz has many ambitions.

From playing on the women’s soccer and lacrosse teams, to commissioning in the Army and working for the Federal Bureau of Investigation someday, she been making the most of her time at Norwich.

Lutz is another in a long lineage of Norwich University criminal justice majors who have had the opportunity to participate in the FBI’s summer internship program in Washington, D.C. Ironically, a NU alumnus was one of the primary reasons why Lutz ended up at Norwich in the first place.

“A family friend went to Norwich and is now a member of the FBI,” said Lutz, who couldn’t reveal the friend’s name due to confidentiality. “She did Army ROTC with a scholarship and was in the corps, as well as played on the club lacrosse team. I ended up visiting campus and saw that Norwich had everything I wanted with soccer, lacrosse, my major and Army ROTC.”

The process to get into the FBI internship program started all the way back in Lutz’s freshman year when she initially had interest in pursuing it.

“I applied my freshman year because one of my friends told me about and I knew it was something I’d be interested in doing for a career,” Lutz said. “I had to pass through several different stages along with completing background checks and interviews but eventually I made it through and earned a spot in the program.”

Throughout the summer Lutz worked in various roles with FBI agents throughout the summer that she couldn’t go into too much detail about.

“There was never a ‘normal’ day,” Lutz said. “Every day was different and I got to learn something new each day.I never knew what was going to happen when I went into work and I really liked how it kept me on my toes.”

Lutz treasured every day on the job during the internship, knowing that the opportunity she had to work side-by-side with FBI agents was a unique experience that Norwich helped afford her.

“The most rewarding part was how much I learned and what I envisioned my opportunities could be one day,” she said. “Also, it showed me that if you work really hard you can have the job you want and love doing it every day.”

Lutz has been getting the most out of every day at Norwich too, going through the rigors of playing on two varsity athletic teams as well as being a staff sergeant in the NU Corps of Cadets.

“I like staying busy, it helps me focus and get my work done,” Lutz said. “I balance everything by taking one step at a time and focusing on what I need to accomplish first and then I work from there.”

Lutz is entering her third season as a goalkeeper for the women’s soccer team. She earned the second-most minutes as a sophomore, making 41 saves in more than 443 minutes, while compiling a 3.65 goals against average record. She picked up her first collegiate victory, making seven saves in a 3-2 win over Rivier on Oct. 18, 2014.

She has also played attack the last two seasons for the women’s lacrosse team, scoring a combined eight goals and dishing out three assists for 11 points in 19 games played. She scored her first collegiate goal en route to her first hat trick on April 5, 2014, in a victory over Albertus Magnus as a freshman.

On top of all of her athletic and corps duties, Lutz has been a standout in the classroom. She has made the dean’s list every semester at Norwich and currently holds a 3.50 cumulative GPA, which landed her on the GNAC All-Academic team last year.

NU women’s soccer and lacrosse coach Beth Van Parys said Lutz is the ideal teammate and a role model for the younger players on the team.

“Holly has worked hard off the field to perform her best in academics and athletics as a positive role model for our women’s soccer and lacrosse programs,” Van Parys said. “She has also proven to be a great asset in the locker room as she works to support all of her teammates and especially our Rooks. She advises Rooks on the soccer and lacrosse teams to help them be strong student athletes, active participants in the Corps of Cadets, and excellent representatives of Norwich University Athletics.”

Upon graduation in May 2017, Lutz plans to commission with the Army and then hopefully apply her summer internship experience to land a full-time job with the FBI after serving her country.

“The close bonds I have made with my teammates and fellow students,” said Lutz about her favorite memories to date at Norwich. “Doing the internship I realized how close people are and how strong the Norwich bond is. I love how everyone supports what you want to do and if you ever need anything, everyone is willing to help.”